Housing starts up nationally, down in Midwest

Nationwide housing starts rose 0.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 610,000 units in September, thanks to a 4.4 percent gain in the single family sector, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

New single-family starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 452,000 units, the best figure since May. However, starts remained in a free-fall in the Midwest in September, down 8.2 percent.

Meanwhile, multifamily starts fell 9.7 percent in September to a 158,000 unit rate.

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